(Staying here was the right choice.)
Tomoe, now transformed into Archer Inferno, thought as much.
After annihilating Hitachi Province, she was supposed to move on to the next province as ordered—but she forced herself to stay.
Because she had a premonition: if she remained here, she would surely meet again with the Lord ■■ in her heart.
And now, she had seen him.
"A-a-ah~~~~ Lord ■■, finally... Gozen has finally... met you again..."
Seeing Tomoe gazing at Naoki like a girl drunk on love, Musashi frowned: "Naoki, you know her?"
"I did, once."
Naoki explained: "A Heroic Spirit Swordsman is a foreign entity formed when a Servant is infiltrated by something. Its origin is a Servant—a copy of a Heroic Spirit from the Throne of Heroes."
"I met the same Servant before. Perhaps the memories from that time returned to the main entity on the Throne, and this new Servant descended carrying those memories."
Even so, if a Servant appears repeatedly in the world, memories from the last summoning aren't carried over. But seeing Tomoe's condition...
"Mental chaos, mistaking me for Minamoto no Yoshinaka?"
"Minamoto no Yoshinaka?! Then this female general is—"
Musashi knew who Minamoto no Yoshinaka was. A military commander from the late Heian period. And when it came to a female general associated with him, the first that came to mind was the legendary warrior woman in Japanese history said to be worth a thousand soldiers.
"Tomoe Gozen."
"Exactly, her."
For Naoki, the Seventh Singularity had only happened a month ago. He still remembered it clearly. Tomoe back then had looked stunning in his eyes.
But now, she could only be called grotesque.
"Musashi, even though I reinforced your swords so you could face the Heroic Spirit Swordsmen, sorry—can I take this one?" Naoki said. "Since she's an old friend, let me handle it. You take care of the others."
"You sure know how to order people around."
Turning her back to Naoki, Musashi stared intently into the darkness behind her. She didn't have senses like Naoki's—only a swordsman's intuition. And that intuition told her another Heroic Spirit Swordsman lurked ahead.
"Hahahaha~~~~"
A chilling laugh echoed from behind the curtain of night. Accompanied by the sound of footsteps on soft earth, a monk wielding a long spear appeared before Musashi.
Like Tomoe, tears of blood streamed from both his eyes.
"Lancer Purgatorio—True Name: Houzouin Inshun." Naoki's warning came from behind. "Successor of the Houzouin-ryū spear style. A Servant said to have reached the realm of gods and Buddhas with his spear, now a Heroic Spirit Swordsman."
"You've got to be kidding..."
Musashi couldn't laugh anymore. She knew all Heroic Spirit Swordsmen were powerful foes, but she wasn't supposed to lose. Yet now she faced a fighter whose skill had reached divine levels?!
"Are your swords still usable?"
"Don't be stupid. Swords are ultimately just external power—they can only close the gap between you two. If you cut him, he dies. If he hits you, you die. I've only brought you to that level. The rest—cover it with your own swordsmanship."
The current Musashi was not the Miyamoto Musashi who had reached the Void. Her blades were far from legendary. Technically, she would lose against Inshun. In raw power, thanks to Fairy Protection, it wasn't an issue.
But battle isn't just numbers. With Musashi's strength and her twin blades, the odds of defeating Inshun weren't low. She just needed to find a way to land a fatal strike—that would be her victory.
"By the way—" Naoki continued, "It's fine if you lose. I can easily fight one-on-two. After that, I'll take care of your corpse and bury you. It'd be nice to have one less freeloader at home."
"You're heartless."
Musashi laughed in anger.
It was just cheap provocation—words Naoki said to rile her up so she wouldn't be burdened. Musashi wasn't fooled by such tricks—but this time, she'd play along.
Being underestimated to this extent was a first. Since it had come to this, she'd win this fight, then keep clinging to Naoki, eating his cooking! Stuff herself full! Make him work himself half to death outside every day, and use his hard-earned money to support her at home!
*CLANG!*
Both swords were drawn from their sheaths by Musashi. Golden light swirled through the air along the arc of the drawn blades, coiling around her like twin silk strands.
Sharp sword intent radiated from Musashi's body. And she herself felt it—something had been added to her the moment she drew these blades.
(Naoki really loaded all sorts of Magecraft onto my swords. Judging by this, it feels a bit like cheating. Using external power like this in a one-on-one duel.)
(But since my opponent isn't human either, I don't need to overthink it.)
Assuming the Niten Ichi-ryū (Two Heavens as One) stance, Musashi grinned: "I'll win. When we get home, give me extra food and a midnight snack."
"You weren't even full from dinner. Talk after you survive."
"Roger~~~!"
Winning meant survival—and Naoki's midnight snack. At that moment, Musashi's fighting spirit blazed!
"Then let's begin, Heroic Spirit Swordsman Houzouin Inshun. I'll let you taste the essence of my Niten Ichi-ryū and Gorin, Miyamoto Musashi!"
"Take this—!"
Both swords swung. The sword aura stored in the sheaths and blades erupted in an instant, transforming into a raging torrent following Musashi's swing!
*SWOOSH!*
The roaring torrent of sword aura surged forth, charging at Inshun like two roaring dragons!
Thunderous echoes resounded beneath the veil of night.
Hearing the sound from behind with a hint of resignation, Naoki sighed: "Glutton. At least appreciate the effort I put into earning money outside. I'll make her get a part-time job too later."
"Then—"
Sky-blue light pierced the daylight domain. Terrifying freezing air gathered in his hand.
Naoki faced Tomoe before him.
"Come, Gozen."
"You who drown in suffering and hatred because of this form—let me set you free."